Wallace returns home to serve at WES

RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville native Jacob Wallace has returned to West Elementary School, this time as assistant principal.

A member of the Russellville High School Class of 2015, Wallace taught self-contained special education at West Elementary from 2018 to 2021 before spending four years at Russellville Elementary.

After serving the past school year as assistant principal at Burleson Elementary School in Hartselle, he returned to WES on July 1 in his first administrative role at the school.

“It’s home,” Wallace said. “This community invested so much in me. Now, I get to give back.”

Wallace earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Alabama and expects to complete his education specialist degree through the University of West Alabama in December.

“I grew up in church and just always had a desire to make an impact and make a difference,” Wallace said.

As he considered different careers, Wallace said education offered the opportunity to make a difference every day. He credits his uncle, Chad Nichelson, with influencing his decision to teach special education.

Wallace said Nichelson had multiple sclerosis, eventually lost his eyesight, but continued teaching independent living skills to other blind individuals.

“He was always a beacon of light for other people. He gave me a heart to make a difference and teach children with special needs,” Wallace said.

While volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Wallace realized he wanted to spend his career working with children.

Wallace recalled one kindergarten student who knew no sight words when he began working with him. By the end of the school year, the student had exceeded his goal of seven sight words. He was reading more than 20 sight words and had reached grade level.

“That was huge,” Wallace said.

The student faced academic and personal challenges, he said, but responded to encouragement and consistency.

“Sometimes students just need somebody who believes in them,” Wallace said.

He said moments like that continue to motivate him.

“I’ve never been able to get over seeing that light bulb turn on in a child’s eyes,” Wallace said.

He said accomplishments that may seem small often become significant milestones for a child.

“Those small victories, those small goals that we set, they’re just so monumental.”

Wallace said his years in special education continue to influence how he approaches leadership.

“You don’t focus on the disability: you focus on the ability,” he said.

Wallace said every child has strengths, and educators have a responsibility to help students discover them.

He said serving as assistant principal at Burleson Elementary School taught him flexibility.

“Leadership is different every single day,” Wallace said. “You see a need and try to meet it.”

He said he wants students to know they are welcome in his office and teachers to know they have his support.

Wallace said relationships with students, teachers, and families come first. He said he is excited to work alongside new principal Gayla Mills.

Wallace said he credits Paula Pounders, Kyle Taylor and his former second-grade teacher, Johnna Morrow, with influencing his approach to education.

Outside of school, Wallace said his wife, Alissa, and their children, Nash and Eleanor, provide the support that keeps him grounded.

He said he hopes every student, teacher and family feels welcome at West Elementary.

“We want to build a place where everyone feels like they belong,” Wallace said.